According to the definition, Tartuffe means a religious hypocrite, or hypocritical pretender to excellence or any kind. Therefore in my opinion, I feel as if Tartuffe is a play on the attack of hypocrisy. The main character, Tartuffe, is the biggest hypocrite in the play. He actually goes as far as to try seducing Elmire but was caught by Damis. In the very beginning of “Tartuffe”, Molière provided many examples of how hypocrisy was distinguished between the characters. One example is when Madame Pernelle feels as if Orgon and his family are not living right. She tells Elmire, “You show no respect for anything amongst you, every one talks aloud there, and the house is a perfect Dover Court. Your conduct is absolutely wrong in everything; you …show more content…
He was described as “a good man, and a man that should be listened to.” Madame Pernelle also stated, “And whatever he controls is well controlled. He would fain show you the way to Heaven; and my son ought to make you all love him” (Molière 2). Everyone else in the family does not agree with them and believe that Tartuffe is indeed a hypocrite. After Orgon gives Tartuffe his property because he is under the assumption that he would soon be his son-in law; the family is determined to prove Orgon and his mom wrong. When Damis tries to tell his father about Tartufee, he turns Orgon against his son by saying, “You had much better believe what he tells you” (Molière 29). Orgon then threatens to break Damis bones. When Orgon sees the wronging of Tartuffe with his own eyes, he realizes exactly what his family was trying to tell him. Orgon tells Tartuffe finally, “I was a long while in doubt whether all was in good earnest; but this is pushing the proof far enough” (Molière 41). I also received the interpretation from reading the play that Tartuffe, Madame Pernelle, and Orgon each showed hypocrisy throughout the play because they claimed to have certain standards and beliefs but seemed to show
Tartuffe is the embodiment of the seven sins masquerading as the exact opposite. His gluttony is on display in scene four when Dorine informs Orgon of his overconsumption. Tartuffe has blinded Orgon to his nature and made him disregard his wife’s wellbeing. Lust and Envy are most likely his greatest follies, leading to his ultimate downfall. Tartuffe accepts Orgon’s daughter as his bride and lust after his wife. Tartuffe makes no attempt to deny the engagement which was conscripted because of his position to Orgon. Tartuffe under the guise of making sure Elaine stay pure reporting her every movement to Odom uses the opportunity to confesses she is his “peace, my solace, my salvation on you depends my bliss-or desolation.” (3.3.79-80) He demonstrates his pride when attempting to seduce Elmire comforting her concerns by telling her “if Heavens is all that holds you back, don’t worry. I can remove that hindrance in a hurry.” (4.7.95-96) Tartuffe so entranced with getting what he wants, he makes the same mistake as Lucifer, calling for action against Heaven. Tartuffe is the embodiment of sloth, acting indifferent towards others in his pursuits; from Elaine being ill to feigning defense of Damis. Tartuffes’s final stop on the “how damned are you” show culminates with wrath and greed. When he is confronted by Orgon after lusting for his wife, Tartuffe divulges his intentions to acquire all Orgon’s
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin Moliere wrote Tartuffe during the beginning of the Age of Enlightenment. One of the main characteristics of the Age of Enlightenment was a push towards using reason over emotions to make decisions. The leaders of the enlightenment truly believed that the world could be made a better place if people did this. In Tartuffe, when the characters use their emotions to make their decisions they find themselves in undesirable situations. While those who let their emotions rule them find their lives spinning out of control, there are other characters in the play who try to approach them with reason and logic. Out of these characters the lady’s maid Dorine stands out as the voice of reason.
Moliere’s Tartuffe assumed set of social conventions were shaped by all the characters within the play, however the authoritative figure was established depicted by the father, Oregon. Oregon’s character assumed the role of king or lord of his household. He believed that as the head of household, he had the right to rule over his kingdom as he saw fit. His kingdom had to run smoothly in order for it to be effective. No matter how harsh, unfair and painful it was for his, wife daughter or servants.
Tartuffe is nothing more than a traveling confidence man who veils his true wickedness with a mask of piety. Orgon and his mother Madame Pernelle are completely taken in by this charade. On the other hand, Cleante, Elmire, and Dorine see Tartuffe for the fake that he really is. Cleante is Orgon's wise brother who speaks elegantly about Tartuffe's hypocrisy. Through Cleante, Moliere most plainly reveals his theme.
Orgon and candide were two major characters from different books that were devoted to Tartuffe and pangloss respectively. Orgon was a man that followed Tartuffe blindly and candide was a devoted student of pangloss. Orgon and Tartuffe both depended on Tartuffe and pangloss to the point of folly.
This was the age of reason. People at this time began to apply rational thoughts to figure out and understand nature and to guide their human existence. In Moliere’s Tartuffe, this ideal is expressed through the character of the king. In the end, Tartuffe has brought an officer of the king back to take Orgon away. However, in Tartuffe’s attempt to get Orgon arrested, the king saw through him and reasoned that Tartuffe was the one to be accused and put to trial.
In today’s society, we live knowing that hypocrisy has become a fact of life, it can be found in all social circles and even amongst the supposedly most morally upstanding citizens. In Tartuffe by Moliere, we see hypocrisy blatantly in the actions of the titular character and his disregard for the life a holy man would be expected to live. While the world is full of Tartuffes there are also enough Orgons to give them someone to survive off of, and with the presence of con-men and fools to believe them the rest of society is being dragged along unwillingly. Tartuffe and his piousness, or complete lack thereof, create an issue of morality by fooling the most powerful character, Orgon, and creating a puppet from him to ensure an easy stay in his home. I believe that we can see the issues presented within Tartuffe reflected today in many of the scandals that have been brought to light in recent weeks. The character manipulates Orgon with
Molière’s play “Tartuffe and Oscar Wilde’s play “The Importance of Being Earnest” both demonstrate a comical portrait of hypocrisy. In “Tartuffe”, the main character Tartuffe is seen as a religious hypocrite who takes advantage of Orgon’s wealth and agrees to marry his daughter, Mariane against her wishes. In “The Importance of Being Earnest”, Jack and Algernon both lie about their identity to get the woman of their dreams. The authors use the concept of double personalities in the play to reveal the deceit and lies to represent the theme of hypocrisy. In fact, hypocrisy is not only displayed in the characters but in the play as a whole. Additionally, the plays are both hypocrital in ways that they do not follow the structure of comedy.
Orgon met Tartuffe in church and instantly fell a friendship between them. He then invites him to live with him at his home. Orgon is so enthralled in Tartuffe that he offers his daughters hand in marriage after he had already agreed that she marry someone else, that she truly loves and will kill herself if she is forced to marry Tartuffe. There is also a moment in time where Orgon completely ignores his wife and her health conditions. When Tartuffe tries to seduce Orgon’s wife, which his son witnessed, does not believe that Tartuffe is capable of such thing and disowns his son. Which then his wife proves to him that he did try...
Moliere’s Tartuffe is said to depict the true hypocrite because it’s main character Tartuffe, acts like a pious man while his intentions are in fact, very cruel. True to the definition of hypocrisy, Tartuffe’s actions are in complete disagreement with his thoughts. However, contrary to Gilde’s complete description of the word, Tartuffe has not ceased ‘to perceive his deception’. Tartuffe is cognizant of the difference between his thoughts and actions. When the audience is first introduced to Tartuffe, he gives himself away as a pseudo or a man who is not truly pious; “[Observing DORINE, and calling to his manser...
It is in the duality of Orgon, the believing subject, and Tartuffe, the manipulating hypocrite (or impostor), that Moliere takes his digs at the extremes of enthusiastic belief. Tartuffe plays the role of a man whose greedy actions are cloaked by a mask of overwhelming piety, modesty and religious fervor. Orgon is the head of a household who has taken Tartuffe in. We laugh at Orgon because everyone else (except his mother) knows that Tartuffe is a fake. All of Orgon's relatives warn him of Tartuffe's gluttony and of the false nature of his pious proclamations. When Dorine tries to tell Orgon about Elmire's illness, all Orgon can say is,
Tartuffe is a satirical comedic play written by Molière in 1664. It is focused around the family of Orgon and the character of Tartuffe, who has become Orgon’s personal holy man. Before being brought into Orgon’s home, Tartuffe was nothing more than a common beggar who learned how to act pious. Throughout this play, we see Orgon give everything he owns to Tartuffe: his love, his money, his daughter, and even the deed to his house. While everyone else in the household sees Tartuffe for who he really is, Orgon remains blind to it throughout most of the play. Orgon is warned many times by different members of the household, including his own son, yet he only chooses to lash out against those speaking. From early on in the play we as readers are able to recognize that Tartuffe is no more than a hypocrite and Orgon is a blind fool. In the play Tartuffe by Molière there are several different important themes that impact this work,
Orgon is deceived because he cannot or refuses to see Tartuffe for the con artist he is. Tartuffe is hugely successful for most of the play because he is so good at wearing a mask of piety to cover his deception. Orgon regards Tartuffe as his religious guide and is blind to the fact that Tartuffe is deceiving him.
Elmire understands that she is a woman and that men see her as a sexual object. She actually uses this to her favor. She uses Tartuffe’s affection for her against him. She makes him look like a fool after she seduces him. This woman understands that gender roles for men and women are very different and that she can use men to get her way. This gives Elmire a type of freedom. Elmire is an independent woman that knows how to get what she wants. In the play Elmire wants Tartuffe out of her husband’s house. She does not understand why everyone likes him so much. Elmire has an idea; she decides she will seduce Tartuffe. When...
1. A. Shakespeare is known for writing in blank verse. While similar to iambic pentameter, blank verse does not rhyme. Shakespeare’s style of writing still puts emphasis on certain syllables like iambic pentameter does, but sounds more natural because the verses do not all rhyme.